Albeit a bit later than usual, I finally feel that my summer is ending. The tell-tale sign fall has begun has started to arrive in the changing of the leaves. Once a brilliant green, now they’re painted a mix of fiery reds, brilliant oranges, and spectacular yellows. Then ever so swiftly, they begin to litter the ground beneath our feet, one by one. This has made me quite anxious and ready for the next chapter.
After leaving England, I traveled to several, much warmer locations. I can honestly say after spending six weeks in a place where the temperature rarely rose above 68 degrees, being in the 90 degree temperatures of Zagreb and Venice was a bit shocking but was a welcome change. It was like taking that last vacation before returning to school, a sort of last hurrah to summer.
While many of my friends and classmates were dealing with the aftershock of an earthquake and hunkering down for the impending hurricane, it occurred to me that I wouldn’t be joining them. To think that I missed out on quintessential back-to-school events like Club Lau or the Welcome Back Jack barbeque. Instead I will be here in Barcelona participating in a whole new set of back-to-school events. Don’t get me wrong, I am elated to be here and to have this opportunity; however, I find myself missing the familiarity that I have gained at Georgetown. I fear that in my absence everything I know about the hilltop will change, ultimately leaving me back at square one upon my return.
At the same time, I am amazed by all that I have done these last couple of months and all that I have to look forward to. Barcelona is the city of my dreams, and I am fulfilling a dream by living here. Rather than focus on what I am missing out on and what I won’t be doing this semester, I have to focus on everything that I will be doing, all of the new (and hopefully well-documented) experiences that I am going to have here and wherever else this semester takes me.
Moral of the Story: Sometimes we take things for granted, myself included, but I have to remember that while I was blessed enough to wake up today, someone else took their last breath. Be grateful for another day. Don’t waste it.
1 Comment to "…Another Begins"
I pray that my seven year old grandaughter, Ashton, will be able to travel in the many of the tracks you have made on these journies when she is your age. Thanks for the admonition not to waste this day. It is a sobering thought for me.